Maharashtra is set to lift all COVID-related restrictions from Saturday, 2 April, as the state welcomes the Marathi New Year, the Office of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday, 31 March.
"All COVID restrictions in Maharashtra will be lifted, as we bring in the new year this Gudi Padwa," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted. Gudi Padwa is a spring festival that marks the traditional New Year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus.
Maharashtra was one of the worst-affected states in India during the first and second waves of COVID-19.
What restrictions will be dropped? Here's all you need to know.
Is it mandatory to wear masks?
The use of masks will be advised but wouldn't be compulsory, the state government said.
Do I still need to show vaccine certificate when I enter the state?
This will no longer be required for domestic flights as all COVID restrictions have been dropped. However, there is no clarity on whether this will still be required for international flights.
What about vaccine certificates while entering malls and cinema halls?
There is no clarity on this. Watch this space for more information.
Are educational institutions fully open in Maharashtra?
Yes, educational institutions were reopened with full capacity on 1 March in the state.
Are there any restrictions on restaurants?
No, there are no restrictions on the functioning of restaurants. They can now function with 100 percent capacity.
What is the COVID-19 situation in the state?
The state is currently reporting around 100 new cases every day with no fatalities. On Monday, there were 964 active cases across 35 districts in the state. A state health department report said that Yavatmal, Washim, and Hingoli districts had zero active cases.
The health department informed that Maharashtra has reported 78,73,619 cases and 1,47,780 deaths since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
Countrywide COVID-19 numbers have also dropped over the last few months. On Friday, India reported 1,335 new coronavirus infections, and the number of active cases dipped to 14,704.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)